Sundara Varadar and Azhagiya Ramar temple, Kaveripakkam

About the temple

This is an ancient temple right in the center of Kaveripakkam just a few kms away from the Bangalore - Chennai highway. The presiding deity in the main sanctum is Sri Sundara Varada perumal in standing posture with shanku, chakra, gada and abhaya hastam.

There is a seperate sannadhi for Ramar, Sita, Lakshman and Anjaneyar where the moolavar Lord appears in Kalyana kolam with Sita on the right hand of Sri Ramar.

The temple tank Ksheera pushkarni is to the right of the temple from the entrance.

Garudan in the temple is seen here in a quite different form of having bent the right leg as if ready to fly. Garudan also has eight nagas around him - two as earrings, two around wrist, two on shoulders, one in waist and one as garland. There is special thirumanjanam to Garuda every Valarpirai Panchami.

The archakar mama is very friendly and devoted. He opens and explains the importance of each and every sannadhi to the devotees. The below image of a window in the wall of the main sanctum and is said to be carved of a single stone. It is interesting to note that the designs on the two sides are different which is very rare for a single stone window. Presently renovations are going on in the temple and the sannadhi for Chakratazhwar was constructed just a few years ago.

How to reach

Kaveripakkam on right on the Bangalore-Chennai highway and about 30 kms from Kanchipuram coming from Chennai side. Take the right into the Sholingur road of Kaveripakkam from Chennai side.

Sannadhis

Sundara Varadar perumal

Sundaravalli thayar

Chakratazhwar/ Narasimhar

Andal

Alwars and Acharyas

Azhagiya Ramar with Sita, Lakshmanan, Hanuman (two of them in the same sannadhi)

Garuda

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 7 am to 10 am and in the evenings from 5 pm to 9 pm.

Temples in proximity

Thiruparkadal twin temples, Iyampettai Paramapadhanathan and Kothanda ramar temple

Sri Ulagalandha perumal temple, Thirukoviloor

About the temple

The temple is among the 108 divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas and comes under the Nadu naatu divyadesams. The presiding deity is Sri Ulagalandha perumal in standing posture with right leg lifted and thayar is called Poonkoval nachiyar in a seperate sannadhi in the outer prakaram.

The temple is famous as the meeting place of the first of the alwars - Poigaialwar, Bhootatalwar and Peyalazhwar. It is the first temple to be praised by the azhwars. The azhwars sang pasurams in praise of the Lord and they later became naal ayiram divyaprabandam. The Lord has shangu in the right hand and chakra in the left hand which is the reverse as normally Lord has the chakra in right hand and shanku in left hand.

The temple is among the pancha krishnaraya kshetram, others being Thirukannangudi, Thirukannamangai, Thirukannapuram and Thirukapisthalam. Another interesting feature of the temple is the presence of Durgai sannadhi inside the complex.

How to reach

The temple is accessible from Cuddalore, Villupuram as well as Thiruvannamalai. It is about 40 kms from Villupuram and lots of buses are there from the main bus stand.

Sannadhis

Perumal
Thayar
Lakshmi narayana perumal
Anjaneyar
Lakshmi Varahar
Andal
Thirukacchi nambi, Wodeyar and Kooratazhwar
Senai Mudaliyar
Manavala Mamunigal
Pillai Lokacharyar
Chakratazhwar

Temple tank and vimanam

The temple tank is called Krishna pushkarni and vimanam is known as Sreekara vimanam

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 6.30 am to 8 am and from 9 am to 12.30pm. In the evenings the temple is open from 4 pm to 5 pm and from 6 pm to 8.30 pm.
Temples in proximity

Thiruvahindrapuram.

Sri Devanatha perumal temple, Thiruvahindrapuram

About the temple

The temple is among the 108 divyadesams of Sri Vaishnavas and comes under Nadu naatu divyadesams. The presiding deity is Sri Devanathan perumal in standing posture and thayar in a seperate sannadhi is Hemambujavalli thayar.

Vedanta Desikar is said to have scripted the Vadagalai Sampradayam here.

There is also a small hill called Aushadagiri besides the temple where Desikar is believed to have prayed to Garuda and Hayagreeva. There is a sannadhi to Lord Hayagreeva, the Lord of Learning in this hillock.

How to reach

The temple is accessible from Cuddalore, Pondichery and Villupuram. There are town buses and share autos from Thirupadiripuliyur bus stand which is about 5 kms from the temple.

Sannadhis

Perumal
Thayar
Anjaneyar
Desikar
Andal
Ramar
Alwars and Acharyas

Temple tank and vimanam

The temple tank is called Sesha theertham and vimanam is known as Sudhdhasatva vimanam.

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 6.30 am to 12 noon and in the evenings from 4 pm to 9.30 pm.

Temples in proximity

Thirukoviloor, Poovarasankuppam Narasimhar temple